Courtney Meyer
"I was born a generation too late...I just hope that students here realize and are so grateful for what they receive."
Dr. Richard Baldwin, a published author and former State Director of Special Education, went to Alma College with one hearing aid and more fear than the average undergraduate. As a guest at the 26th annual Awards and Appreciation Reception, he told the dedicated group of students surrounded by their family, friends, supporting faculty members, and the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities' generous donors, "You're in the perfect place-exactly where you need to be."
Altogether, more than 30 awards were provided to volunteers, staff, and students, with 21 undergraduate and postgraduate students receiving an astounding total of $58,900 in scholarships, courtesy of the center's ten endowments. Two of those students earned the distinction of becoming the second set of Katrina Tagget Memorial Fellows, a program initiated in honor of Katrina's academic excellence and love of serving others. In addition, four students accepted the Athletes with Disabilities Scholarship provided through a multi-year partnership with the Athletes with Disabilities Network initiated in 2009, and five benefited from the Samaritan Scholar Award. One student explained, "I was very touched by the pure generosity of the donors in the Samaritan Scholarship and Katrina Taggett Memorial Fellowship...More than just financial assistance, I was given great sense of confidence from the support of the RCPD community. The selection committees and the donors believed in me enough to support my education and my dreams."
(The 2010 Samaritan Scholars will receive educational support this coming year.)
Faculty and staff who contributed to students' outstanding achievements were also recognized, providing the nominating students an opportunity to express their deep appreciation for the support they have received this year. Raymond, a former Marine, who recognized the Assistant Dean of the Eli Broad College of Business gratefully stated, "Dean Wilson has shown me that I do have the skills to make it in the civilian world." When introducing Regina McNally, an Assistant Professor of Marketing, doctoral student Chi Ming affirmed, "I would hardly survive here and hardly have a chance to publish my dissertation without her."
The program paid tribute to the tenacity of Karey Osadchuk, a spunky and passionate alumna of Michigan State who passed away this January. Karey, a past volunteer and intern with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, founded the Association for Chronic Health Empowerment in 2006.
By recognizing the impact of the faculty and volunteers who have shaped the experiences of MSU students with disabilities, the RCPD set the stage for another year filled with achievements and success stories like those conveyed throughout the course of the reception. Armed with scholarships and the support of our generous benefactors and caring staff, our students continue to demonstrate that no matter their story, MSU students are truly living up to the reception's theme: "One Community, Great Results."
(Members and officers of the 2009 Tower Guard, which received the Outstanding Volunteer Organization Award, pose with Learning Disabilities Specialist Elaine High and Alternative Testing Facilitator Pam Pope. When accepting the award, president Charlie Andrews acknowledged the staff's strong presence in the organization, asking that some of the honor of the award was redirected back to them in gratitude.)